Class Descriptions for Dancers
Styles of Dance:
Dance is a great way to express your feelings, strengthen your body, and improve your sense of grace. And it’s a lot of fun!
Each style of dance can be described as a series of regulated, controlled, rhythmical movements of the body, usually to the accompaniment of music, alone or with other dancers. There are many benefits to be gained from studying dance including:
- A sense of rhythm and co-ordination
- A subject that helps the student analyze herself and her work
- Learning to accept and implement constructive critics
- A new form of self-expression
- The ability to accept responsibility
- The ability to work with others
- The opportunity to learn the art of performance
Ballet
Ballet is a formalized style of dance that originated in the European Renaissance courts and has since become a highly technical artform with its own vocabulary. Students begin by studying the five basic positions of the feet, arms and head, and seven movements of dance (plie, tendu, saute, etc.), and spotting for turns. All codified movements are preformed first at the practice barre then in the center of the classroom and finally moving across the floor. Each class finishes with reverence, a way of saying thank you and goodbye that also shows respect for the teacher, the student and the art of ballet.
v Ballet Intro:
Monday 3:30 – 4:00
Tuesday 3:30 – 4:00
Tuesday 5:00 – 5:30
Thursday 5:30 – 6:00
v Beg. Ballet:
Monday 5:30 – 6:15
Thursday 3:30 – 4:15
v Ballet 2/Adv. Beg:
Tuesday 3:30 – 4:15
Tuesday 5:30 – 6:15
Thursday 3:30 – 4:15
v Ballet 3 (two times/week):
Monday 3:30 – 4:30 & Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30
v Int. Ballet:
Monday 5:30 – 6:30
v Ballet 4(two times/week):
Monday 3:30 – 4:30 & Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30
v Ballet 5 (three times/week):
Monday 4:30 – 5:30 & Tuesday 4:30 – 5:30 & Thursday 3:30 – 4:30
v Ballet B:
Tuesday 4:00 – 5:30 & Wednesday 4:30 – 6:00 & Thursday 4:30 – 6:00
v Ballet A/B:
Monday 5:30 – 7:00
v Ballet A:
Tuesday 5:30 – 7:00, Wednesday 6:00 – 7:30, Thursday 6:00 – 7:30
Tap
Tap is a form of dance wherein rhythmic sounds are created by the feet. Students learn to dance in plie on the balls of the feet and articulate the toe taps and heel taps in various patterns. Basic steps like shuffle, ballchange, toe heel, and hop can be combined an infinite number of ways to create simple or complex steps and rhythm patterns. Tap increases musicality, speed, and precision of a student’s dancing.
v Tap Intro:
Tuesday 4:30 – 5:00
Wednesday 3:45 – 4:30 (Tap/Jazz Intro combo)
Thursday 6:30 – 7:00
v Beg. Tap:
Monday 4:30 – 5:00
Thursday 4:45 – 5:15
v Adv. Beg. Tap:
Tuesday 5:00 – 5:30
v Int. Tap:
Wednesday 4:30 – 5:15
v Adv. Int. Tap:
Monday 4:30 – 5:15
v Adv. Tap B:
Wednesday 5:30 – 6:15
v Adv. Tap A:
Tuesday 8:00 – 9:00
Hip Hop
Hip-hop is a broad category that incorporates a variety of old and new urban dance styles including breaking, popping and locking. Freestyling, where students improvise their own movements to the music, is an important part of the genre.
v Beg. Hip Hop:
Wednesday 3:45 – 4:30
v Int. Hip Hop:
Wednesday 4:30 – 5:15
v Adv. Int. Hip Hop:
Wednesday 5:15 – 6:15
v Adv. Hip Hop:
Monday 6:30 – 7:30
Jazz
Jazz is a kind of stylized theatrical dancing conceived in America and influenced by classical and folk traditions throughout the world. Jazz allows wide freedom of expression and movement yet adheres to basic principles of correct posture and placement of the body. Basic technique includes isolations of head & neck, shoulders, rib cage, and hips as well as strength and coordination in the core, arms, legs and feet.
v Jazz Intro:
Monday 4:00 – 4:30
Tuesday 4:00 – 4:30
Thursday 6:30 – 7:00
v Beg. Jazz:
Monday 5:00 – 5:30
Thursday 4:15 – 4:45
v Adv. Beg. Jazz:
Tuesday 4:15 – 5:00
v Int. Jazz:
Monday 4:30 – 5:30
v Adv. Int. Jazz:
Wednesday 6:15 – 7:15
v Mini Jazz:
Thursday 5:30 – 6:30 (Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
v Junior Jazz: Wednesday 6:15 – 7:30
(Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
v Teen/Senior Jazz:
Wednesday 7:30 – 8:30
(Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
v Turns & Jumps B:
Tuesday 5:30 – 6:30 (Pre-requisite: students must have at least double pirouette and right, left and center leaps. Younger students allowed with instructor permission. Required for Company dancers.)
v Turns & Jumps A:
Tuesday 7:00 – 8:00 (Pre-requisite: students must have triple pirouette, lateral & fouette turns, and right, left, center and reverse leaps. Required for Company Dancers
Wednesday 5:15 – 6:00
(Pre-requisite: ballet strongly recommended)
Contemporary
Contemporary dance draws from ballet, modern and jazz backgrounds and can be accompanied by a wide variety of music. Contemporary technique emphasizes contact-release in the spine, fall and recovery of the torso and entire body, floor work, improvisation, and lifts. Dancers not only learn steps but also learn to share each movement as part of their uniqe contribution to the greater human experience
v Adv. Int. Contemporary:
Thursday 6:00 – 7:00
v Junior Contemporary:
Thursday 6:00 – 7:00
(Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
v Teen/Senior Contemporary:
Thursday 7:30 – 8:30 (Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
Acrobatics Acrobatic dance incorporates techniques from gymnastic floor work and to increase the student’s flexibility, strength and balance. Acro classes include plyometric exercises, which are designed to produce fast, powerful movements, increase speed and prevent injury. Basic movements learned include various jumps, splits, cartwheels, handstands, rolls, and backbends.
v Beg. Acro:
Wednesday 4:30 – 5:15
v Adv. Beg Acro:
Thursday 4:30 – 5:30
(students must be working on front/back walkovers)
v Int. Acro:
Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30
v Adv. Int. Acro:
Thursday 3:30 – 4:30
Class Levels
Class placement is determined by faculty ,based on student’s maturity, ability, focus and prior dance experience. Age and grade are used only as guideline. Students will often stay in the same “level” for more than one year while continuing to increase their knowlegde and skills quite unlike a school environment. We request that parents respect our recommendations, as they are made with great consideration by teachers who have college degrees in dance, have danced professionally and receive continuing education through master classes and workshops. Our goal as teachers is to provide quality dance education in a positive learning environment to each child in every class level and style.
PRE-BALLET
Ages 3-5, pre-kindergarden. Pre-requisite: students must be potty trained, willing to play well with others and follow instructions. Classes are action-oriented, creative and fun. Offers children an introduction to the magic of dance as they learn basic ballet terminology, movement patterns, introductory rhyhms, group skills and manners.
Pre-Ballet:
Monday 5:30 – 6:15
Tuesday 3:30 – 4:15
Tuesday 5:30 – 6:15
Wednesday 1:15 – 2:00
Thursday 1:15 – 2:00
Classes are also offered for students at Montessori Country Day on Tuesdays and
Montessori Learning Center on Thursdays.
INTRO
Ages 5-6, kindergarden. Pre-requisite: open to all, although students may have completed one to two years of pre-ballet. Classes are action-oriented, creative and fun. Offers children an introduction to different styles of dance: ballet, tap, jazz. Students learn terminology and technique, movement patterns and rhythms, group formations, and basic performing skills.
Ballet Intro:
Monday 3:30 – 4:00
Tuesday 3:30 – 4:00
Tuesday 5:00 – 5:30
Thursday 5:30 – 6:00
Jazz Intro:
Monday 4:00 – 4:30
Tuesday 4:00 – 4:30
Thursday 6:30 – 7:00
Tap Intro:
Tuesday 4:30 – 5:00
Wednesday 3:45 – 4:30 (Tap/Jazz Intro combo)
Thursday 6:30 – 7:00
BEGINNER
Level 1, ages 6-7, 1st grade. Pre-requisite: open to all, although students may have completed one to two years of Intro classes. Classes are action-oriented, creative and fun. Offers children a solid foundation in dance technique and terminology, correct body placement and coordination, basic locomotor skills and movement patterns including changes of direction, basic rhythm patterns, and proper classroom etiquette.
Beg. Ballet:
Monday 5:30 – 6:15
Thursday 3:30 – 4:15
Beg. Jazz:
Monday 5:00 – 5:30
Thursday 4:15 – 4:45
Beg. Tap:
Monday 4:30 – 5:00
Thursday 4:45 – 5:15
Beg. Acro:
Wednesday 4:30 – 5:15
Beg. Hip Hop:
Wednesday 3:45 – 4:30
ADVANCED BEGINNER
Level 2, ages 7-8, 2nd grade. Pre-requisite: open to all, although students may have completed one to two years of Beginner classes. Classes are still action-oriented, creative and fun at this level. Offers children a solid foundation in dance technique and terminology, correct body placement and coordination, basic locomotor skills and movement patterns including changes of direction, basic rhythm patterns, and proper classroom etiquette. Students will begin to combine several basic elements into more complex steps and combinations as their technique progresses.
Ballet 2:
Tuesday 3:30 – 4:15
Tuesday 5:30 – 6:15
Thursday 3:30 – 4:15
Adv. Beg. Jazz:
Tuesday 4:15 – 5:00
Adv. Beg. Tap:
Tuesday 5:00 – 5:30
Adv. Beg Acro:
Thursday 4:30 – 5:30 (students must be working on front/back walkovers)
Mini Jazz:
Thursday 5:30 – 6:30 (Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
INTERMEDIATE
Levels 3 & 4, ages 8-10, 3rd, 4th & 5th grade. Pre-requisite: open to all, although students may have completed one to two years of Advanced Beginner classes. Ballet students may begin taking twice a week at this level. Students have achieved a certain level of technical knowledge and proficiency and begin to develop an inner connection to the movement. They will learn longer combinations with added challenges in technique and style, more changes in direction, attention to transitions, and intricate rhythms.
Ballet 3 (two times/week):
Monday 3:30 – 4:30 & Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30
Int. Ballet:
Monday 5:30 – 6:30
Int. Jazz:
Monday 4:30 – 5:30
Int. Tap:
Wednesday 4:30 – 5:15
Int. Acro:
Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30
Int. Hip Hop:
Wednesday 4:30 – 5:15
Int. Contemporary:
Wednesday 5:15 – 6:00
Mini Jazz:
Thursday 5:30 – 6:30 (Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE
Levels 4 & 5, ages 10-12, 5th & 6th grade. Pre-requisite: students must have prior dance training, except in Hip Hop. Ballet students must take two or three times per week.
Students have achieved a certain level of technical knowledge and proficiency and begin to develop an inner connection to the movement. They will learn longer combinations with added challenges in technique and style, more changes in direction, attention to transitions, and intricate rhythms building on previous levels.
Ballet 4(two times/week):
Monday 3:30 – 4:30 & Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30
Ballet 5 (three times/week):
Monday 4:30 – 5:30 & Tuesday 4:30 – 5:30 & Thursday 3:30 – 4:30
Adv. Int. Jazz:
Wednesday 6:15 – 7:15
Adv. Int. Tap:
Monday 4:30 – 5:15
Adv. Int. Acro:
Thursday 3:30 – 4:30
Adv. Int. Hip Hop:
Wednesday5:15 – 6:15
Adv. Int. Contemporary:
Thursday 6:00 – 7:00
ADVANCED B
Levels 5 & up, ages 11-14, middle school. Pre-requisite: students must have prior dance training, except in Hip Hop. Ballet students must have at least two years of experience taking class 2-3 times per week. Ballet students must take three times per week and will be considered for training en pointe at this level.
Ballet B:
Tuesday 4:00 – 5:30 & Wednesday 4:30 – 6:00 & Thursday 4:30 – 6:00
Ballet A/B:
Monday 5:30 – 7:00
Adv. Tap B:
Wednesday 5:30 – 6:15
Turns & Jumps B:
Tuesday 5:30 – 6:30 (Pre-requisite: students must have at least double pirouette and right, left and center leaps. Younger students allowed with instructor permission. Required for Company dancers.)
Junior Jazz:
Wednesday 6:15 – 7:30 (Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
Junior Contemporary: Thursday 6:00 – 7:00 (Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
ADVANCED A
Advanced dancers, ages 13 & up, high school. Pre-requisite: students must have prior dance training, except in Hip Hop. Ballet students must have at least four years of experience taking class three times per week. Ballet students must take three times per week at this level.
Ballet A/B:
Monday 5:30 – 7:00
Ballet A:
Tuesday 5:30 – 7:00
Wednesday 6:00 – 7:30
Thursday 6:00 – 7:30
Adv. Tap A:
Tuesday 8:00 – 9:00
Turns & Jumps A:
Tuesday 7:00 – 8:00 (Pre-requisite: students must have triple pirouette, lateral & fouette turns, and right, left, center and reverse leaps. Required for Company dancers.)
Adv. Hip Hop:
Monday 6:30 – 7:30
Teen/Senior Jazz:
Wednesday 7:30 – 8:30 (Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
Teen/Senior Contemporary: Thursday 7:30 – 8:30 (Company class, others welcome with instructor permission.)
Advanced students have arrived at a stage of proficiency both technically and emotionally. Strong performance elements are evident. Students are alert, ambitious and begin to understand their strengths and weaknesses as a dancer. Their muscles are strong, flexible, and stretched to allow for fullest range of movement. Attention is paid to one’s physical well-being including proper diet and rest, and are consistent in class attendance.
Advanced students apply corrections for constructive purposes and approach their work with openess, maturity and responsibility. They understand the separation of responsibility between teacher and students and are able to comprehend and execute instruction and choreography from various teachers. Students are tolerant of other dancers and respects their individual expressivements and talents. They are quick to learn, memorize and respond, being able to adjust to unexpected situations. Goal-oriented and confident of their achievements, the advanced student is also aware of the intellectual, historical and aesthetic beauty of dance.